Centrifugal separator.



H. D. DIBBLE.

CBNTRIFUGAL SEPABATOR.

APPLIOATION FILED 113.18. 1907.

. Patented 11115111.1909.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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H. D. DIBBLE. GENTRIPUGAL SEPARATOR.

. APPLICATION FILED PBBJE, 1907.

921 ,371 v Patented May 11, 1909.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

gum/441Go@ Patented May 11, 1909.

H. D. DIBBLE. CENTRIPUGAL SEPARATOR.

APPLIGATION FILED 1113.18, 1907.

H. D. DIBBLE. GENTRIPUGAL SEPARATOR.

APPLIoATIoN FILED PBB.1a. 1907.

V @Hof/Wa 5'SHEETS-SHBET 5.

H. D. DIBBLE.

`CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 18, 1907.

Patented May 11, 1909.

5149014160@ Ham/Q J/wbz e.

HARVEY D. DIBBLE, OF MYSTIO, SOUTH DAKOTA.

CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patensedmay 11, 190.9.

Application led February 18, 1907. Serial No. 357,979.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, HARVEY D. DIBBLE, residing at Mystic, in the countyof Pennington and State of South Dakota, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Centrifugal Separators, of which the vfollowingis .a specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements incentrifugal separators, and it more particularly has for its object toprovide a means for cha ly andinstantly separating by centrifuga forcethe clear solution from the slime or sands in any wet process ofextracting metals from ores.

The invention also has for its ob'ect'to rovide a separator that can beuse as wel in separatingstarch from the wash-water or to separate anysolid held in suspension from its liquid, whenever the said solid has aspecific gravity greater than that of the liquid.

In its generic nature my invention comprises a separating vessel or bowlhaving a plurality of valve controlled peripheral outlets, whichreceptacle is mounted for rota-- tion von an axis at right angles tothat. of the peripheral outlets, a feed-way leadin into the separatingbowl and having a plura ity of pipes discharging into said bowl,together with means "for collecting the lighter vmaterial or liquid andconveying it to a desired point and means for automatically controllingand governing the outlet valves of the separating bowl proportionatelyto the amount of material fed intothe bowl.

In its more detailed nature my invention comprises a certain novelconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts, all of which will befirst described in detail and then be specifically pointed out in theappended claims, reference/being had to the accompanying drawings, ihwhich I Figure 1, is a central vertical longitudinal section of one formof my invention showing the position of the parts .at the beginning .ofthe operation of the machine. tFig. 2, 1s a similar view showing theposition of the parts while the machine 1is in full operation. Fig. 3,is a horizontal section onthe'line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4, is asimilar'view .on the line 4 4 of vFig. 'Fig 5, is a detail section onthe line 5-5 of Fig. 2. 6, is a detail diagrammatic viewl of the valveoperating mechanism, per se. Fig. 7, is a central, vertical,longitudinal section of a modifred form of my invention. `-Fig. 8, 'is asimilar'viewof l'shown in Figs. 9 and 10.

a further modification thereof. Fig. 9, is a detail, longitudinalsection showing a modidetail, sectional view-of a further modificationof 'the valve controlling device. Fig.

12, is a top, plan view thereof; -l'3,isa

diagrammatic view of a circuit controlling mechanism for ythe valveoperating devices Fig. 14, shows how the valve closing members shown inthe form of my invention disclosed in Figs. 1 and 7, maybe dispensedwith and spring members substituted therefor.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings .in which Vlike numerals andletters of reference indicate like parts in all of the figures,y 1.designates a slfpporting .frame- Work on the 'bottom y1a of which atubular bearingbox 2'is secured. Within the box 2 the adjustablestepbearing member 3 is held.

The bearing'boX 2 extends above Athe step bearing 3'to receive the solidend 4a of the shaft '4 which has a stepped bearing end to cooperate withthe stepped bearing-3. The shaft 4 projects through a bearing'bushing 5lin the upper portion of the supporting frame and carries a drive pulley6 asindi'cated, the upper end of the shaft 4 terminating 1n ahopper-like mouth 4b which merges wlth'th'e internal bore 4c of theshaft that extends downward toward the solid bearing end thereof. l

The stepped bearing 3 and the bearing box 2 are slotted as at 3a and 2Etrespectively to permit assage of a lever 7 that is pivoted at 7 a to aiinkS that-is in turn pivoted at Sla to the supporting frame. The lever7 is also fulcrumed at 7 b tothe step bearing 3 and has its outer end 7secured to a cable 9 that passes over .a pulley 10 and carries'at itsfree end a plate 9EL upon which a plurality 'of weights 11 are held.-The pulley 1'0 is mounted in bearings on a suitable bracket 12projecting from the frame-work 1.

13 designates the separating bowl which comprises a central hub 13elthat is-secured'to `the shaft 4to turn therewith. The separatthe valve.levers 16 which are fulcrumed at 16a on brackets 17 'secured to theperiphery of the separating bowl 13, as indicated.

The valve levers 16 project upwardly and carry weights 16bjon theirupper ends so that the centrlfugal force when the shaft 4 is rotatedwill tend to move the weights 16b in the direction of the arrow in Fig.1, to hold the valves 15 seated to close the apertures 13e.

1o 18 designates bell crank levers fulcrumed at 13a on brackets 19secured to the bowl 13 and each bell crank lever has one of its armsconnected by a rod 20 with its respective valve levers 16, and each bellcrank lever 18 15 line of the shaft 4.

21 designates a ring loosely mounted on the shaft 14 above theseparating bowl 13, and22 designates a second ring similarly mounted onthe shaft 4 but below the tank 13. The rings 21 and 22 are connectedtoget her by a series of rods 23 that passloosely through apertures inthe collar 13a of the A se arating bowl 13, while the collar 13a is 25 aa ted at times to engage the upper edge of the caring boX 2 for apurpose presently explained.

24 designates a series of radially disposed ipes projecting through thehub 13a of the liowl 13 and into the shaft 4 and communieating with thebottom of the bore or passage 4c within the shaft 4. The pi es 24 havetheir discharge ends 24a prefera lyarranged tq discharge at a pointslightlyT farther from the axial line of the shaft 4 than one-half thedistance between such axial line of the shaft 4 andthe peripheral riml13c of the bowl 13. Adjacent the collar 13a the wheel 13has a series ofpip'e outlets in its lower wall which discharge into a tank 26stationarily-held kon the bearing member2 and the tank 26 has an outletpipe 26a by means of which the contents of the tank 26 l can be conveyedaway to any desired point.

45. 27 designates 'the' slime and sand supply sluice from which theslime and sands are deposited into the hopper mouth 4b of the shaft 4and gravitated down through the passage 4"-therein to the pipes 24.

50 When my improved machine is o erated, the slime's, sands or othermateria s tol be separated are continuously fed into the ho per 4b andpass down the hollow shaft to t e `pipes 24. The shaft 4 and theseparating 55 owl 13 being rotated at the properspeed by power appliedto the pulley 6, the centrifugal force causes the material to beseparated'to pass out of pipes v24. The outlet of the pipes is arrangedat a poi-nt between the pe` riphe and the center of the tank 13. Thecentri igal force here causesgthednstant separation of the solids fromthe liquid, the solids yielding to the centrifugal force and assingvtoward the outside. The clear liquici being forced toward the center,discharges through has its other arm projecting toward the' axial` thepipe 26X into the reservoir 26 which discharges through a pipe'26a toany desired location.

At the beginning of the operation, the valves will be closed tight-ly,otherwise the sand and liquids would all pass out together and therewould be no separation. These valves arey held tight by the centrifugalforce acting on the weights 16h, as before mentioned. The step bearing 3upon which the peripheral shaft 4 revolves. has a sliding vertlcalmovement and is normally held at its highest point by means of theweights 11 act, ing on the lever 7. Now when the sands, slimes or othermaterials inside the separating bowl 13 accumulate,.to a predeterminedamount, the weight thereof over-balances the weights 11 and the saidweights are raised while the bowl 13 and its attachedv parts descend.This causes the rin 21 to engage the ad'acent arms of the bel cranklevers 18 and y o erating thereon controls the opening and c osing ofthe valves 15. As the 'tank 13 descends by reason of the weight of itscontents the bell crank levers 18 will be recked to open the valves1.5`p`roportionately, thus allowing a portion of the compressed sludgeor separated solids to escape. As the contents of the bowl13becomelessened by the escape of the solids through the outlet ports13e, the weights 11 will raise the bowl 13 and disengage the collar 21from the bell crank levers 18, thus allowing the centrifugal force toagain move the weights 16b to close the valve 15, it being understoodthat by reason of the loose sliding movement of the rods 23 in theaperturesJ in the hub 13a, the rings 21-22 will always be held at theirlowermost position withl the ring 22 in engagement with the bearing 2.

Thus it will be seen that the discharge outlets for the solid matter areautomatically regulated by the amount of material fed into theseparating bowl, it being understoodrthat the discharge apertures forthe liquids are always open and in communication with the tank 26.

InpFig. 7, I have shown a slightly modified form of my invention, and inthis form the shaft 4 is solid, and to substitute for the hollow shaft 4of Fi` 1, I provide a tank 30 secured to the sha t 4 above the main orseparating bowl 13 into which the sluice 27 discharges. The tank 30 hasa series of discharge pipes`24 that discharge through the upper wall 13bof the bowl 13, the point of discharge being relatively nearer theperifphery of the bowl 13 than the center thereo In this 'form of myinvention the valve operating bell crank leverslS-have their adjacentends held above the upper edge of the bearing boX 2 to be engagedthereby as the tank 13 settles by reason of the weight of the In Fig. 8,I have shown a still further modification of my invention in which thepipes 24X instead of discharging lfrom the tank 30 in a direct line intothe bowl 18, the discharge pipe 24X may be bent into a riffht angledform, as shownin Fig. 8, thus die charging from the tank 24 at rightangles to the shaft 4 to enter the bowl 13 at right angies to its planeof rotation.

In Fi'g. 9, I have shown a modified yform of valve operating mechanismin which the valve lever 16 has its weight lb dispensed with 'and toperform the function of the Aweight 16b I provide a magnet armature .35awhich is connected to the lever 16 by a link 36 as shown, the armature35a being in the nature of the plunger type to cooperate with thesolenoid magnets 35. Thus it will be seen that the centrifugal forceacting upon the armatures 35a will'tend to close the valves 15 and theaction of the magnets 35 will tend to open them. The magnets 35 may beenergized by any suitable means and controlled through a switch indirectcontrol of the operator, if desired, although I prefer to havethem controlled automatically, and with that result in view any suitablecommutating and contact making device may be attached to the shaft 4 sothat the movement of the shaft 4 will control the energization of themagnets 35. A suitable controller1 is diagrammatically represented inFig. 13',by reference to which it will be seenv that a contac't makingarm 37 is connected to the shaft 4 and cooperates with the contactplates 38 of any suitable rheostat.

In Figs. 11 and 12 I have shown a slightly further modification of my'invention in which the bell crank levers 18 are di'sposed'with and theconnecting rods 2P are 'joined with the plate 40 loosely mounted on thesha-ft 4 and having a cog rim 40a that meshes with a pinion 41b of anele'ctrom'o'tor 41 so that the ro tation of the motor 41 will turn theplate 40 and open the valves 15, it bein understood that the weights 161serve to hod th'ev'alves 16 closed when the motor 4I is not operated.The -mot'or 4-1 may be controlled 'by 'a mechanism similar to that shownin'Fi'g. '13, if de'- sired.' prefer to use the electr-o magneticoperating means for the rings where it is desiable to have the machinevery sensitive on account of but slight differences Y in the specificgravity of the solids t'o be extracted, and .where the machine is verysmall, the electro magnetic operating means may be preferable.

I do not 'confine myself to the use of the weights for closing thevalves. 15, as springs may be used in place thereof for instance, asindi'c'atedin' Fig. 14, it being understood that springs are theequivalents of weights and may `be used wherever weights are mentionedinthis specification.

From the foregoing it will be -notcd that the hollow shaft 4 and hopper4b of the form of my invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2, form a receiverfor the' material to be separat-ed, while the tank 30 of the form shownin Figs. 7 and 8 forms such receiver.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings it is thought the complete construction, v

operation and numerous advantages of my invention will be readilyunderstood by those `skilled in the art to which it appertains, and

I desire it understood that many slight changes in the detailconstruction, arrangement and correlation of parts may be made Withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appendedclaims.

1. In a centrifugal separator, a rotatable separating bowl havingperipheral outlets and novabl'e under the. influence of gravity, neansfor counterbalancing lsaid bowl, means for adnzitting 1r aterial to beseparated into said bowl, valve devices for said periph:- eral outlets,means controlled by centrifugal forcefor holding said valve devicesseated,

fluid outlets for said separating bowl, 'a collecting tank into whichsaid fluid. outlets discharge, an oiitake from said collecting tank, andnzeansgoverened by the weight of the materials Within the separatingbowl for controlling the openin of the peripheral outlet val-ves,substantiflrl described.

2. Ina centrifugal separator, rotatable separating bowl havingperipheral outlets, neans for admitting the naterial to be sepa-ratedvinto said bowl, valve devices for said peripheral outlets, rn'eanscontrolled by centrifugal force for holding said valve seated, fluidoutlets for said separating bowl, a collecting tank into ,which saidfluid outlets discharge, an off-take from. said collecting tank, meansgoverned by the weightof the niateiial within the separati-ng bowl forautomatically opening the peripheral outlet valves.

3. A; centrifugal separator,co nprising the 'combination with arotatable shaft, a separating bowl n ounted thereon, and rotatabletherewith, said separating bowl having a plurality of peripheraloutlets, control valves for'said perlpheral outlets, neanscon-trolled bycentrifugal force for maintaining@ said valves closed, a' receivingmeans for the-ruan terial to be separated, n eans for conveying thematerial to be separated from the receiving means and discharging itinto the separating bowl, liquid off-take pipes conimunicating with saidseparating bowl, a tank in connnunie-ation with said liquid o'fl'- takepipes and means `controlled by the w'veight of the materials to be se`arated, for opening said peripheral-valve out ets.

4. I-n a centrifugal separator, the combination with av rotatable shaft,and a sepy as shown' and l arating bowl mounted thereon to turntherewith, said separating bowl having a plurality of valve controlledperipheral outlets, means for normally holding said valves closed, meansfor opening said valves at times, a receiver for the material to beseparated, a plurality of pipes leading from said receiver into saidseparating bowl, to discharge the material into the separating bowl, aliquid receiving tank, li uid off-take pi es communicating withlilieseparating owl and discharging into the liquid receiving tank,

vmeans forconveying the liquid away from the .liquid receiving tank, albeing arranged substantially as shown and described,

5. A centrifugal separator,`coinprising in combination with a rotatableshaft, and a rotatable separating bowl having peripheral outlets, meansfor discharging the material to be separated into said vseparating bowlat predetermined places, li uid off take pipes for said separating bowsaid separating bowl having peripheral outlets, valvesI for closing saidperipheral outlets, said valves 'each comprising a pivotally mountedvalve lever, centrifugally operated means carried by each of said valvelevers for normally holding the valves closed, a bell crank lever foreach ,valve, a connecting rod between the bell trifugal separatingdevices held on said shaft contro and in communication with the interiorthereof, means for normally holding said shaft elevated, said se aratingmeans including a separating bowl aving valve controlled outlet ports,and means controlled by the weight of the materials to be separated foropening the outlet port valves, substantially -as shown and described.

n 7. In a centrifu al separator, the combination with a rotata le shaft,a'rotatable separating tank mounted therein, means for admittingmaterials to be se arated into said separating tank, liquid outlets forsaid separating bowl, peripheral outlets for said se arating tank, valvedevices for normally ho ding said peripheral outlets closed, said searating bowl and lsaid rotatable shaft being mounted for longitudinalmovement, of means for counter-balancing the weight of said se aratingtank and shaft, and means lled by the weight of the materials to beseparated for operating said peripheral in said frame-work, saidshafthaving longiy tudinal movement, of a longitudinally movable stepbearing for the lower end of said shaft, said bearing box and said stepbearing having slotted portions,. a lever passing4 through said slottedportions and fulcrumed "in said step bearing, a link fulcrumed to saidsupporting frame and said lever, counterba ancing weights for movingsaid lever to move' the step-bearing in one direction, a rotatableseparating bowlc'arried by said shaft y and movable therewith, saidshaft having a n longitudinal passage fromv the separating bowl outwardto one end thereof, a plurality of radial pipes communicating with thecen-I tral passage of the shaft and with the interior of the separatingtank, liquid outlets for saidv separating bowl, a liquid receiving tankheld in communication with said li uid outlets, valve controlledperipheral out ets for said separating bowl, valve operating leverdevices for coperating with the peripheral outlet valves, means fornormally holding said peripheral outlet valves closed, and meanscontrolled by the weight of the materials to be separated for openingsaid peripheral outlet valves at times.

9. In a centrifugal separator, the combination with a su portingframework, a bearing box moiinte thereon, a rotatable shaft mounted insaid bearing box and in bearings in said frame-work, said shaft havinglongitudinal movement, of a longitudinally movable step bearing for thelower end of said shaft, said bearing box and said step bearing havingslotted portions, -a lever passing through said slotted portions andfulcrumed to said step bearing, a link fulcrumed to said supportingframe-work and said l lever, counter-balancing weights. for moving saidioo lever to move the step bearing in one direcf tion, .a rotatableseparating bowl carried by said shaft and movable therewith, said shafthaving a longitudinal passage from the separatin bowl outward to one endthereof, a plura ity of radial pipes communicating with the centralpassage of the shaft, and with the interior of 'the separating tank,liquid outlets for said separating bow a hquid receiving tank held incommunication with said l1 uid outlets, .valve controlled peri heral outets for said separating bowl, va ve operating lever devices forcoperating with the peripheral outletvalves, means for normally holdingsaid peri heral valve outlets closed, means controlled by the Weight ofthe inaterials to be separated for opening said penamed means comprisingcollars on the rotatable shaft, connecting rods between said collars,said collars held to be engaged by the as shown and described.

10. In a centrifugal separator, the combination with a rotatable shaft,a separating bowl carried thereb having a central hub portion andcentraly arranged liquid discharge pi es, said bowl having a pluralityof peripherally arranged outlet ports, valves for closing said outletports, pivotall mounted weighted valve levers for said va ves, bellcrank levers mounted on said tank, connecting rods between said bellcrank levers and said valvelevers, a liquid receivin tank communicatingwith the liquid ischarge pipes of the separating bowl, a receiving meansfor the materials to beiseparated, pipes for conveying the materials tobe separated from' the receiving means into the separatin bowl, andmeans coperating with said bel crank levers for opening said peripheraloutlets as the weight o the materials to be separated increases beyond apredetermined amount, substantially as shown and described,

11. In a centrifugal separator, the combination with the supportingframework, of a rotatable shaft mounted therein having longitudinalmovement, a step bearing for the lower end of said shaft also havinglongitudinal movement, means for normally holding said step bearing andshaft in one position of longitudinal movement to counterbalance theweight of the shaft and its attached parts, a separating bowl rotatablymounted on said shaft to turn therewith, said separatin bowl comprisinga hub portiong a perip eral rim, and top and bottom plates connectinthe' hub portion and peri heral rim, said s aft having a longitudinal cannel and provided with a hopper-mouth, a plurality of ralially arrangedpi es passing through these arating bowl hu and communicating wit theinterior of the shaft, a plurality of liquid outlet pipes carried bysaid separating bowl and communicating with the interior thereof atpoints adjacent the hub, a liquid receiving tank beneath the separatingbowl into which the liquid offta e plpes of the separating bowldischarge,

-said separating tank having valve controlled peripheral outlets, valvelevers fulcrumed on said separatin bowl, centrifugally operated meansfor hol ing said peripheral outlets closed, bell' crank levers mountedon said separating bowl, connecting rods between the bell crank leversand the valve levers, and means engageable by said bell crank levers attimes for moving the same to o en the peripheral outlets, substantiallyas s own and described.

12. In a centrifugal separator, the cmbination with a supportingframework, of a rotatable shaft mounted therein and haying longitudinalmovement, a step bearing for the lower end of said shaft also havinglongitudinal movement, means for normally holding said step bearing and.shaft in one position of longitudinal movement to counterbalanee theweight of the shaft and its attached parts, a separating bowl rotatably-mounted on said shaft to turn therewith, said separating bowlcomprising a hub portion, a peripheral rim, and top and bottom platesconnecting the hub portion and peripheral rim, said shaft having alongitudinal channel and provided with a hoppermouth, a pluralityofradially arranged pipes passing through the separating bowl hub andcommunicating with the interior of the shaft, a plurality of liquidoutlet pipes carried by said separating bowl and communieating with theinterior thereof at points adjacent the hub, a liquid receiving tankbeneath the separating bowl into which the liquid off-take pipes of theseparating bowl discharge, said separating tank having valve controlledperipheral outlets, valve levers fulcrumed on said separating bowl,centrifugally operated means for holdin said peripheral outlets closed,bell crank evers mounted on said separating bowl, connecting rodsbetween the bell crank levers and the valve levers,means engageable bysaid bell crank levers at times for moving the same to open theperipheral outlets, said last named 'means comprising a pair of collarsloosely mounted on said shaft on each side of the separating bowl, rodsloosely passin through apertures in the separatin bowl hub andconnecting said collars toget er, all being arranged as shown anddescribed.

HARVEY D. DIBBLE. Witnesses: f

D. H. BUNNELL, EsTELLE BUNNELL.

